136Safety zones

136 Safety zones

Eligible safety zone infrastructure (1) In this section:

eligible safety zone infrastructure means any of the following in the Commonwealth offshore area:

(a) offshore renewable energy infrastructure (other than a cable that rests on the seabed);
(b) offshore electricity transmission infrastructure (other than a cable that rests on the seabed);
(c) a cable that rests on the seabed and that:
(i) is offshore renewable energy infrastructure or offshore electricity transmission infrastructure; and
(ii) connects 2 or more pieces of offshore renewable energy infrastructure that are all within the same licence area; and
(iii) meets any requirements in relation to the length of the cable or the distance between points connected by the cable that are prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this subparagraph.

Note: A cable that transmits electricity from offshore renewable energy infrastructure to the shore, or between the shore and a place outside the Commonwealth offshore area, or between different licence areas, is not eligible safety zone infrastructure.

Determination (2) For the purpose of protecting eligible safety zone infrastructure, the Regulator may, by notifiable instrument, determine that a specified area surrounding the eligible safety zone infrastructure is a safety zone. (3) The determination must state that: (a) all vessels; or (b) all vessels other than specified vessels; or (c) all vessels other than the vessels included in specified classes of vessels; are prohibited from entering or being present in the safety zone without the written consent of the Regulator. (4) The determination must also include any other information prescribed by the regulations. (5) A safety zone specified in a determination under subsection (2): (a) may, subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection, extend to a distance of 500 metres around the eligible safety zone infrastructure specified in the determination, where that distance is measured from each point of the outer edge of the infrastructure; and (b) must be entirely within the Commonwealth offshore area.